Pantone's 2014 Color of the Year

In my prediction the color of the year is never going to be brown, blue or even gray for that matter.  The color selections Pantone makes each year tend to be bold eye catching colors.  They are the new hot colors for a reason.  Mostly because they are picked to make a statement.  Radiant Orchid is similar in boldness to the previous years selections of tangerine tango and emerald green.  Taupe is not eye catching enough to set the design world on fire.   As a supplier of high end building products we are always trying to stay up with what's next in the industry.  I feel the new radiant orchid color will push our products toward a complementary brown or gray.  Local interior designer Trudy Mercy Brown commented in the Post and Courier, "I think it will be one of those colors people will see more as an accent color.  In the fall, the color could be paired with browns, taupes and warm grays."    The Wall Street Journal wrote, "one might walk past a beige bathroom without a thought, but a radiant orchid rug will turn your head."  I am not going to go out and buy a radiant orchid couch or paint it on all the walls in my living room, but I am going to add a throw pillow or cover a chair with a splash of color to add freshness.

2013 Year in Review

   Goals achieved, opportunities seized, moments captured.  These are ways to measure the year of 2013.  At Fieldstone Center we look back on the relationships earned.  As a consumer you have a choice every day on where to shop for groceries, where to buy your clothes etc.  It is our job as a supplier to convince you when you are in need of a patio, a fireplace, a new porch terrace, or a new driveway; to work with us.  Unfortunately our job does not stop there.  We rely most importantly on the contractors, builders and architects to help bring these projects to fruition.  I have included pictures below and in my blog that show off some of the projects of 2013 that we have contributed to.  I realized in scrolling through the pictures that the professionals that we work with on a daily basis are extremely gifted.  You can dream up anything in your head and we can try and match that image with the correct product.  However, to make this dream a reality it is the extreme talent and tireless effort put forth by the installers that make these moments happen.  Thank you for giving us the opportunity to earn your business.  Building relationships will always be our number one goal.  

Imperial Tile and Stone

Wertimer and Associates

Three Oaks Construction

SMG Construction

Jerry Poore Landscaping

Steve Dill Construction

Just Hardsapes and Design

Gilchrist Masonry

Gollihugh and Hull Builders

Kuprel and Associates

Filinski Builders

Thomas Evans Construction

Vintage Design

Charleston Cobble

Royal Indigo Construction

Aqua Blue Pools

AOS Specialty Services

Designs in Brick

Kistner Design

SPS Custom Stone

Pleasant Landscapes

Erin Masonry

B Mora Construction

Remark Landscape Architecture

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Moffly Construction

Samrea Masonry

Cobb Architects

Andrew Hargett, LA

Solaris Builders

What's behind those lintels?

What's behind the pained stucco window sills on a typical historic Charleston building?  Probably stone.  It could be marble, limestone, brownstone or granite.  These buildings were built to stand the test of time, so they used a timeless building material.  So why does it appear that these sills or lintels have cracks in them?  This question is a little more complex.  Sometimes the cracks are in the paint and stucco that has been applied to cover up the stone.  

Other times the stone may be eroding over time.  If stone is a timeless building material then why would it be erroding?  Let's use Brownstone has an example in our discussion because it is prevalent in our downtown structures.

  

Brownstone is a very soft sandstone product.  One of the reasons it is used in building is becasue of its soft characteristics.  It can be easily manipulated by hammer and chisel or saw immediately after extracting it from the ground.  Over time the material will harden when exposed to the elements.  However, it does have some flaws.  It is a sedimentary stone that is formed in horizontal bedding layers.  The way brownstone was formed makes it inherently prone to erosion.  Over time these beautifully carved lintels separate just slightly along the bedding lines to form small cracks in the stone.  This allows moisture to enter, freeze, thaw and split them apart.  

Also prevalent in the material are tiny clay pockets where the material never hardened fully and erodes slowly over time.  So what do we do about this stone material that was installed in the 1800's and is slowly eroding?  

The major concern is to determine whether this erosion is causing any damage to the structure of the building.  In most cases there is no reciprocal damage to the structure.  This is why you generally see the sills painted over or stuccoed to hide the cracks.  

In 2012 a structural engineering firm was hired to investigate the structural cracks on the house front porticoes at Drayton Hall.  The house at Drayton Hall was completed in the mid-1700's around 1742. Over the years this plantation house has undergone several large reconstructive renovations.  The structural engineering firm 4SE was concerned that the cracks in the portico were indicative of cracks in the brownstone lintels behind it.  

After chiseling away the stucco to expose the brownstone the structural engineers were pleasantly surprised to find the lintels in great condition.  These stones have been installed for over 250 years are still in good shape.  

Although brownstone has flaws in its original formation often times this material has been proven to stand the test of time.  We have had to replace material on recent downtown renovations but usually it is initial improper installation practices or for aesthetic reasons.    

Chateau Limestone

The Chateau Limestone material comes in a pre-packaged 6 piece Ashlar Pattern.  Pictured above the limestone material fits tightly together and is easy to lay over a concrete slab or sand base.   

The Chateau Limestone product has a natural weathered face which gives the stone a rustic or worn European feel.

The Chateau Limestone was used on a house in Daniel Island built by Structures Building Group.  The homeowners fell in love with the distinct blue hues of the stone.  They liked the look of a traditional Pennsylvania Bluestone but wanted a more consistent color.  

Erin Masonry installed the product over a concrete slab and cut the edge of the patio to give it a rounded shape.  

Once the area was cleaned up and landscaped you can see how well this Limestone contrast with the house and landscape colors. 

The rounded shape of the patio help break up the symmetry of the house. 

One of the wonderful features of Daniel Island are the picturesque views of the sunrise over the golf course.  

The Chateau Limestone was also used on the entry walk and front steps.

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The homeowners chose to use the same 6pc ashlar pattern on the walkway. 

The steps were all custom fabricated to have offsetting joints and finished rock-faced ends.  

Chateau Limestone is becoming one of our most popular stones for is consistency in color and natural feel.